My Experiences As a Nursing Student - Essay Example

My Experiences As a Nursing Student As a nursing student, there are many experiences that nursing students go through in the process of learning. The experiences start from academic part to the placement time, where the theories and skills learnt in books are put in practice. One of the processes that individuals learn at school and practically is the removal of chest drains. As a student, nursing a patient on a chest drain removal, was a procedure I carried out in my placement period, albeit doing some few wrong procedures, I learnt my mistakes. Removing a drain is usually a process that is decided by a medical practitioner with a nurse whose job is to nurse the patient. However, any medical professional can execute the process as long as he or she follows the protocols of medical operations (Callara, L. 2008, 57). The criterion (protocol) that must be followed, starts with checking the absence of possible air leaks into the bottle of chest drain. Air leaks are usually noted when a patient breathes out using force or coughing with vigor unlike normal exhalation. Secondly, a check-up for the fluid volume into the chest drain to establish if it is normal or low follows. If it minimal, say, 10ml per hour, chest drain is usually present (Daly, J. Speedy, S. & Jackson, D. 2009, 68). The establishments of a respiratory difficulty also defines that there is a chest drain problem. Similarly, an increased bleeding risk that is associated with a decrease in coagulation also shows that there is a chest drain. Having established the explained steps, evidence from radiology for the absence of air or accumulation of fluid in the chest will be required before the removal of chest drain process begins (Jacob, A. & Sonali, J. 2007, 29). My work in the whole chest drain process was to prepare the equipment used for the procedure and care for the patient since before and after the procedure, the patient is put under a closed –chest underwater seal that drains air and fluids to enhance the expansion of lungs (Basford, L. & Slevin, O. 2003, 39). The equipment I prepared for the doctor to carry out the procedure was a sterile dressing pack, gloves, stitch cutter, a solution for cleansing of skin, a clinical waste bag, a sterile swab, clamps and a dressing that is non-adherent (Quinn, F. 1998, 45). The predominant procedure is ensuring that the patient lies in an upright position to guarantee the expansion of lungs so that there is an easy optimal drainage of air and fluids enhanced by gravity (Fagin, C. 2000, 40). Secondly, the patient requires emotional support so that the anxiety experienced reducing such a time is as minimal as possible until the whole process is completed successfully (Price, B. & Harrington, A. 2013, 47). If the patient does not get nursing services, he or she can tamper with the chest tube that is used to free up the lungs and consequently dislodge the tube, which will be a complete failure of the chest drain removal process. My work was to ensure that I had put some tape to hold the tube in its right position and ensuring that the patient was as comfortable as possible to avoid any tampering with the tube (Bulman, C. & Schutz, S. 2013, 58). It is also important to administer adequate palliative medication to ensure that there is a decrease in uneasiness to the patient. This is most important by doing it a half an hour before the procedure of chest drain removal happens. In my case, I failed to administer the analgesic process in the required time because of the nervousness occasioned by the first-time shock in carrying out the procedure. I performed the procedure, ten minutes to the physiotherapy, which was a dire mistake since it requires adequate time for the patient to get relaxed first (Finkelman, A. & Kenner, C. 2010, 56). Similarly, the other procedure, which was to keep a continual reminder to the patient to cough as frequent as possible within an hour to aid in the drainage of the pleural space and lung expansion, was a procedure I failed drastically (O'carroll, M. & Park, A. 2007, 39). This was because of the sympathy derived from the sight of the patient put under the chest tube and looking frail while struggling to breathe. A regular assessment of the status of the respiratory progress was a procedure I executed perfectly. Observing the patient for any sort of discomfort in exhalation and inhalation to establish if the chest is undergoing a symmetric expansion was paramount (Parker, M. & Smith, M. 2010, 78). The observations were within a period of an hour. However, the procedure of water seal maintenance was a challenge to me. This is essential in the prevention of air entry into the pleural space. The patient looked too frail to keep on adjusting the equipment placed on him, hence giving me a hard time in maintaining the water seal. This part of the process is equally important in ensuring that the level of fluid in the drainage bottle is enough for the seal tube to remain submerged at the required level so that the chest drain removal occurs without fail. The experience that I received from executing the process of chest drain removal made me learn a couple of lessons. I understood the importance of learning nursing theories as well as being able to perform even the basic steps. Having adequate knowledge on nursing theories alone does not make a good nurse. I found out that the ability to take care of patients in the hospital is a practical skill that makes a nurse better. There were numerous challenges that enhanced my hands-on experience as a professional nurse. For instance, maintaining the water seal was an uphill task for me. However, after the process was over, I reflected that the challenge was worthwhile since it gave me room to improve my skills on it. There were challenging steps for me in the whole process. For instance, the case with the procedure of securing the drainage system to the patient’s bed and placing it securely so that there was no room for probable breaks out of accidents was an uphill task for me. This was a sensitive step since it was the core of saving the life of the patient; despite the numerous mistakes I did during the whole process, this particular procedure was too important (Buckis, C. 2006, 80). An accidental disconnection of the drainage system from the patient would mean that air would enter the pleural space, hence causing the lungs to collapse. According to the knowledge learnt in class, nursing theories demand that the health of patients is paramount and in case of any connections that must be executed by a nurse, they must be securely placed and maintained so that no risk of failure is posed to the patient (Adams, N. 2007, 17). The work of the doctor is to administer the medication and the work of the nurse to ensure that the equipment placed to supply the body of the patient with a particular drug or therapy is not tampered or erroneously placed since poor connection can easily terminate the life of the patient (Allen, J. 2011, 34). As a student nurse, such instructions from nursing theories lingered on my mind and I did not want to terminate the life of the poor patient with recklessness, so I ensured that the connections were in place with topnotch accuracy and maintenance to facilitate the drainage system. After the completion of my placement, I reflected on my forte and weaknesses. There are numerous things I found out that i should work on, which are included in my action plan. The placement was a great experience to exercise my skills as well as discover my weaknesses in various procedures. For instance, I realized that I am so sympathetic to patients that I am hesitant to carry out some procedures that are painful to them. However, the doctor who executed the chest drain removal process was not supportive enough to ensure that all my duties were done effectively. He was keen on doing his work and leaving the ward, making me wander in fear and embarrassment. In view of my weaknesses and strengths, it was my duty to prepare an action plan. An action plan would guarantee my efficiency in subsequent procedures of chest drain removal that I encountered and related procedures. Professional Development Action Plan What is the challenge? What are you doing in order to address it? What resources you will need to achieve preferred outcomes? Appropriate outcome measures of your success in dealing with/completing your actions Understanding the numerous roles of a nurse in a hospital Covering nursing theories through in-depth research and analysis to understand the requirements of a nurse in any hospital. Seeking information from my lecturers throughout the year in cases where I do not understand the theories of nursing. The teachers’ comments on my improvement in the nursing tests and examinations The inexperience about nursing and its acceptable standards Attending nursing seminars at school as well as in the community to understand the practicality of nursing standards and contemporary issues for better development in nursing skills. Following up the schedule of nursing symposiums and conferences around my locale The reaction of the people in case I get a chance to share my little knowledge about nursing with the people in attendance at the symposium Lack of hands-on nursing experience Visiting numerous hospitals during weekends to do volunteer in nursing patients so as to get the hands-on expertise with various patients suffering from different diseases but mainly focusing on patients under chest drain removal. Frequent visitation of the hospitals around m y home and school area The feedback from the patients I will be attending to in the hospitals The application of nursing theories learnt in school into the practical bit of it Incorporating the skills learnt from numerous nursing procedures into more volunteering in larger hospitals with many patients by focusing on chest drain removal to perfect my skills in that before perfecting other weaknesses. Engaging the doctors or medical practitioners in the hospitals that I will be visiting to correct me in the procedures that I am not efficient and skillful. Doctors’ comments and views about my work ethics and skills Limited knowledge about nursing which calls for more insightful reading from more nursing books and tutorials Reading numerous books including the ones given at school while incorporating all the prior activities to see the actual development in my nursing profession. This is to weigh my progress in terms of theory, practice as per the knowledge learnt and the experience received in chest drain removal, and other related nursing fields. Visiting the library more often to read the available nursing books as many as possible The results of my tests and examinations Conclusion The knowledge earned from my placement period as well as the theory of nursing I am learning in school will be instrumental in inculcating me with the best skill to become a professional nurse. The progress so far is amazing since I have known my flaws and through my action plan, I am going to work on them for improvement. References Adams, N. (2007). The nursing profession. Chandni Chowk, Delhi, Global Media.  Alexander, M., & Corrigan, A. (2010). Infusion nursing: an evidence-based approach. St. Louis, Mo, Saunders/Elsevier. Allen, J. E. (2011). Nursing home administration. New York, Springer Pub. Basford, L., & Slevin, O. (2003). Theory and practice of nursing: an integrated approach to patient care. Cheltenham, U.K., Nelson Thornes. Buckis, C. (2006). Nursing: Australia. Ultimo, N.S.W., Career FAQs. Bulman, C., & Schutz, S. (2013). Reflective practice in nursing. Hoboken, Wiley-Blackwell.  Callara, L. R. (2008). Nursing education challenges in the 21st century. New York, Nova Science Pub. Daly, J., Speedy, S., & Jackson, D. (2009). Contexts of nursing: an introduction. Chatswood, N.S.W., Elsevier Australia. Fagin, C. M. (2000). Essays on nursing leadership. New York, Springer.  Finkelman, A. W., & Kenner, C. (2010). Professional nursing concepts: competencies for quality leadership. Sudbury, Mass, Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Jacob, A., R, R., & Sonali, J. (2007). Clinical nursing procedures: the art of nursing practice. New Delhi, Jaypee Brothers Medical publishers. O'carroll, M., & Park, A. (2007). Essential mental health nursing skills. Edinburgh, Mosby. Parker, M. E., & Smith, M. C. (2010). Nursing Theories & Nursing Practice. Philadelphia, F.A. Davis Co. Price, B., & Harrington, A. (2013). Critical thinking and writing for nursing students. Quinn, F. M. (1998). Continuing professional development in nursing: a guide for practitioners and educators. Cheltenham, Stanley Thornes. Read More